WORK is already under way to address a number of issues highlighted in an inspection report into services for children and young people in Shetland.
The services under the auspices of the Shetland Community Planning Partnership were rated as 'good' in six out of nine categories:

THE LOCAL lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group as well as arts venue Mareel have been shortlisted for the inaugural Scottish LGBTI awards.
Public voting is open until 27 August via this link: https://www.equality-network.org/vote/

SHETLAND has retained the Milne Cup with an emphatic 6 – 0 victory over neighbours Orkney at Gilbertson Park, on Saturday late afternoon.
The blues were up 2 – 0 at half time with goals from captain Leighton Flaws (penalty) and Finn Watt.

SHETLAND'S largest wind turbine yet is being erected at Luggie's Knowe, north of Lerwick, by local firm Shetland Aerogenerators.
The company behind the Burradale wind farm whose directors have a stake in the Viking Energy development took over the turbine project from Scottish and Southern Energy.

Kick-off at the Manson Cup final on Friday evening was delayed by 40 minutes as the coastguard helicopter had to make a landing on the pitch. When the game eventually started, Lerwick Spurs showed they’d kept sharp in their extended warm-up, opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Sam Ward had already had an effort […]

A DOUBLE bill featuring folk festival favourites Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra and hotly-tipped harmony singing duo Lewis & Leigh are to play a brace of country hall shows in Shetland in September.
The six-piece band fronted by Heron, a “crazy fool for country music and a full time dandy cowboy”, went down a storm at the festival back in 2013 with their eclectic blend of western swing, blues, gypsy jazz and country.

LERWICK lifeboat and the Sumburgh based search and rescue helicopter were called out on Saturday morning after concerns were raised for an overdue diver near Uyea, off the island of Unst.
Thankfully, the man was found before emergency services arrived at the scene.

Heading into Clickimin on Thursday night, the first thing to catch the eye of ticket-holders was a prominently placed notice: “No sustained or abusive heckling”, writes Alex Garrick-Wright.
The implication being that there is some kind of line in the sand; heckling is fine, but once it is sustained beyond a certain point, or becomes too abusive, then it won’t be tolerated?
Fair enough; Kevin Bridges has played rougher venues than Lerwick before, and if anyone is going to know the line between abusive disruption and good-natured banter, it’ll be him.

THE UK government has once again refused an appeal for information about whether an investigation into northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael was deliberately delayed to avoid influencing the Liberal Democrat’s election campaign last May. In a written reply to a Freedom of Information request by Shetland News into the timing of the inquiry into the private memo Carmichael leaked, the Cabinet Office said releasing such details could lead to “unhelpful speculation”.
Meanwhile the former Scottish secretary has been appointed as the Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman by the party’s new leader Tim Farron. He has also been appointed to the House of Commons energy and climate change select committee.

A YOUNG Lerwick man has been banned from driving for 16 months for driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
Sean McLaren, of 34C Ladies Drive, pled guilty to the offence near his home the previous evening when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Friday.

TWO prominent SNP figures in Shetland are competing to represent the party in next May’s Scottish elections.
Danus Skene, the SNP’s candidate who came close to beating Alistair Carmichael in this year’s Westminster elections, will be standing against the party’s highlands and islands list MSP Mike Mackenzie.

A man has been disqualified from driving for 16 months at Lerwick Sheriff Court after driving a car while unfit through drink or drugs in Ladies Drive last night. Sean McLaren, 21, of Ladies Drive admitted the charge after appearing from custody at the court this afternoon. He also admitted failing to provide two specimens […]

Work has begun on erecting a 121-metre wind turbine on the former SSE site at Luggie’s Knowe for Shetland Aerogenerators. A 750-tonne crane with a reach of 85 metre was to lift the tower section of the 3MW German-manufactured Enercon machine. The crane was transported to Shetland by the turbine manufacturer specially for the lift. […]

LOCAL farmers and crofters are being reminded of the dangers of harvesting when working near overhead power lines after several accidents this year in Scotland.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution’s Shetland operations manager George Priest said equipment such as “silage trailers, tipping trailers and booms”, as well as stacking, can prove a danger.

Indie rockers The Dirty Lemons are soon to hit the road, with a mini tour of the Highlands and Islands and an album on the way. The guitar, bass and drums trio of Anthony Peart, Craig Watt and John William Halcrow have a nine-track record in the pipeline, recorded at Stevie Hook’s studio in Lerwick. […]

BRITAIN and France have combined to call for international efforts to address “a global migration crisis” which has seen thousands of people trying to force their way into the Channel Tunnel in an effort to reach the UK.

Orkney’s footballers were dealt a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Shetland, losing 6-0 this evening in the annual inter-county clash. Orkney had high hopes of a first victory on Shetland soil since 1981 but found themselves 2-0 down at half time at Gilbertson Park in Lerwick. Despite battling valiantly to try and get back ...

Hatston Pier will be used by the ferry from Aberdeen this evening following the incident last night which resulted in an alternative berth being used. The Serco NorthLink vessel Hrossey made use of Kirkwall Pier on Friday evening on her trip south from Lerwick. This followed a small fire aboard the offshore supply vessel Subsea ...

The champion horse at this year’s abbreviated East Mainland Show was Orkney’s Minor Diamond, shown by Eilidh Ross of St Ola. The 10-year-old Connemara cross Irish sports horse, also known as Coyote, was sired by Hasty Bits and out of Far Cry, having been bred by the Caseys of Gaitnip. A delighted Eilidh said she ...

Orkney’s footballers are set to take on the ‘auld enemy’ today as they face Shetland in the annual senior inter-county clash for the Milne Cup. Orkney will be looking for revenge following last years narrow defeat in 2-3 thriller in Kirkwall but will be mindful of their record in Shetland. Shetland are unbeaten at home ...

An exclusion zone was set up around Hatston Pier earlier this evening as a small fire was reported on board the offshore vessel Subsea Viking, which was tied up alongside at the time. It is understood that the fire was quickly brought under control and there were no casualties. Fire-fighters from Kirkwall remain on scene and ...

The 2015 Sanday Show show saw M&A Lennie of Seaview winning the championship and reserve titles in both the cattle and sheep sections. However, at the end of the day it was a pony which was named overall champion of the yard. In contrast to the poor summer weather, the show was held in sunny and ...

The Craigmyle Cup semi-final fixtures, due to be played tonight, have been postponed. Hotspurs v Stromness and St Andrews v Dounby which had been scheduled for a 7pm kick off are now postponed with a new date yet to be announced.

Kirkwall Bowling Club is set to welcome 72 players from 24 clubs from throughout Scotland for an open triples competition — the biggest competition ever held by the club. Players from Motherwell, Wishaw, Keith, Wick, Thurso and Shetland — as well as bowlers from Orkney’s clubs — will be competing in the two-day long competition, due ...

This weekend must be one of the busiest on record for weddings in the county, with no less that eleven either having taken place or planned to take place across Orkney over three days. Orkney Islands Council reports that yesterday saw the first of the week’s weddings, with three to take place today and seven more taking ...

MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care Opportunity with NHS Orkney This training course is jointly run by the Universities of Stirling and Dundee, in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland and a number of NHS Psychological Services across Scotland. On completion of this Masters-level course, trainees will be equipped with the core skills for ...

Temporary Tele Sales Consultant Orkney Tourism Group (OTG) is currently recruiting for a Temporary Tele Sales Consultant to join their team and assist in the production of the 2016 Main Visitor Guide for Orkney. The role will focus on selling advertising space within the brochure, and will involve making outbound calls to businesses. It is ...

Isles SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil has received confirmation from Damian Hinds MP, Exchequer Secretary for the Treasury, that they have contacted the Metropolitan Police, the National Crime Agency and […]